Bayesian hierarchical modelling of rainfall extremes

Abstract

Understanding weather and climate extremes is important for assessing, and adapting to, the potential impacts of climate change. The design of hydraulic structures such as dams, drainage and sewers, for instance, relies in part on accurate information regarding patterns of extreme rainfall occurring at various locations and at different durations. Deriving this kind of information is challenging from a statistical viewpoint because a lot of information must be extracted from very little data.